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Jul. 7, 2026

Cite Out at the Big Nerd Corral

Standoff at the table of authorities. Two guides enter. Can only one survive?

Benjamin G. Shatz

Partner in the Appellate Division of Duane Morris LLP's Trial Practice Group in the Los Angeles office, and leader of the firm's West Coast appellate practice.

Appellate Law (Certified), Litigation

Exceptionally Appealing appears the first Tuesday of the month.

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Cite Out at the Big Nerd Corral
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Here we are again for that classic showdown: Blue versus Yellow. To set the stage, recall Rule 1.200 (Format of Citations), which states: "Citations to cases and other authorities in all documents filed in the courts must be in the style established by either the California Style Manual [commonly called the Yellowbook] or The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation, at the option of the party filing the document. The same style must be used consistently throughou...

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